Details
TM 13 NW BENTLEY CHURCH ROAD
4/11
Church of St Mary
22.2.55
II*
Parish Church. Probably C14 chancel and nave of C12 origin. C14 west tower and
south porch, circa 1858 north aisle. C19 restorations. Random flint, ashlar,
stone dressings, flint and stone panels to plinth and parapet of west tower. Red
plain tiled roofs. Chancel:- Most features C14 but the small restored round
headed window to north wall appears to have C12 rear splays. Stone parapet verge
and cross to east wall, east window of 3 cinquefoiled ogee lights, tracery over,
chamfered 2-centred arch, moulded label with foliate stops, small round headed
light to gable apex. South wall, central and western buttresses. Eastern
restored window of 2 light lancets with pointed quatrefoil over, restored central
lancet, western C19 trefoiled light, 2-centred head, moulded label with foliate
stops. Nave:- South wall, buttressed at angles. Stone cross to gable apex.
South wall eastern window of 2 trefoiled ogee lights, quatrefoil over, pointed
segmental head and label. Central window of 2 trefoiled lights, trefoil over,
2-centred head, label with headstops. South porch:- Stone coping to gable,
cross finial. Niche with ogee head and flat canopy below gable apex with C19/C20
female figure. Chamfered 2-centred head to outer arch, label with king and queen
head stops. Modern Norman style south doorway with some original carved stones
incorporated into the round head. Fragments of similar stonework on porch window
cill. Side windows of single cinquefoiled lights, 2-centred heads. C19 North
Aisle:- 3 windows each of 2 trefoiled lights, trefoils over, moulded labels with
headstops. C19 North Chapel:- East rose window, star tracery, central cusped
roundel. Caernarvon head to east doorway, vertically boarded door with ornate
hinges. North window, 2 plate-lancets with roundel over. West Tower:- Of 3
stages. Flint and stone panels to crenellations and plinth. Buttresses to
western angles. Bands below crenellations and bell chamber. Each face of the
bell chamber has a window of 2 cinquefoiled lights, quatrefoil over, 2-centred
head and label. Second stage, small trefoiled lights with square heads to north
and south faces. Angled stair turret to east of south face with one slit light
and one quatrefoil light. West window of 3 trefoiled ogee lights, vertical
tracery over, 4 centred head. South Porch Interior:- Side purlin ridge board
roof with small crown post. Scratch date IT 1736 on west jamb of outer archway.
Church Interior:- Chancel:- Boarded and ribbed roof of 5 cants, moulded wall
plate. Tesselated floor, the tesserae appear to be Roman. 2 floor slabs, (1)
Tollemache son of Tollemache Duke Esq 1713 (2) Tollemache Duke 1690. Mosaic
reredos, central cross flanked by symbols Alpha and Omega. C19 stained glass to
windows. 2-centre arched doorway to north vestry. C19 choir stalls. Wooden
altar rails of 7 two-light cinquefoiled ogee arches, moulded rail. No chancel
arch, in its place a heavy timber tie or rood beam. Single hammer beam roof,
moulded wall plates, purlins, braces to collars and king posts, carved
spandrels. C19 coloured tiled floor. 2 floor slabs (1) Coyte and Beeston 1732
and 1735 (2) Much worn, dated 1722. C19 stained glass windows. Wooden octagonal
pulpit, crocketed pinnacles to angle buttresses, moulded parapet, cinquefoiled
panels, octagonal stem. south wall memorial, coloured marble, Hon. Stanhope
Tollemache, son of 1st Baron Tollemache 1855-1934, shafts with Corinthian
capitals support the moulded pediment, central shield of arms, pendant grapes and
lion mask. Probably C15 octagonal font, panelled with carved virgin and child,
angels with shields, 2 flowers and interlocked eternity rings. Octagonal stem,
symbols of the 4 Evangelists at angles alternating with buttresses with moulded
capitals and bases. Square base. Old, probably C12/C13 base slab, with outlines
of a former stem. Simple chamfered 2-centred tower arch, fragments of medieval
painting on jambs. Stop chamfered 2-centred stair turret arch, nailed board and
muntin door with edge muntins. North arcade of 3 bays, octagonal columns with
moulded capitals and bases, chamfered 2-centred arches of 2 orders. North aisle
side purlin ridge board roof of 3 bays, stone corbels, timber wall plates, arched
braces to principal rafters and collars. Triptych, painted Exodus/Lords Prayer
Boards in carved wooden frames on west wall. Hatchment above 2-centred arch,
east wall. North vestry, boarded and ribbed 5 cant roof. One bench with
poppyheads and carved animals on the arms. N Pevsner., Suffolk 1974.
Listing NGR: TM1186038142
